Final answer:
Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution denies states the power to coin money, tax imports/exports, maintain armies, enter into treaties, and grant titles of nobility. These restrictions were implemented to prevent states from undermining the national government and to ensure national unity. The section helps maintain a unified national policy in critical areas like currency and defense.
Step-by-step explanation:
Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution outlines several specific powers denied to the States. According to this section, states are not permitted to:
- Coin their own money.
- Tax imports or exports from other states.
- Maintain their own armies for engagement in war.
- Enter into treaties, alliances, or confederations.
- Grant titles of nobility.
Additionally, there are restrictions such as prohibitions against pass laws that retroactively affect legal contracts (ex post facto laws), or those that single out an individual for punishment without a trial (bills of attainder). The Founding Fathers included these restrictions to prevent the states from undermining the authority of the national government and to ensure national unity. The aforementioned restrictions also align with the Constitution's broader principles of separating powers between the states and the federal government to maintain a balanced federal system.
By restricting states from exercising these powers, the Constitution helps to maintain a unified national policy, particularly in areas such as currency, defense, and international relations, which are crucial for preserving the country as a cohesive whole.